I was at this Boston show and sure it was good but by the standard then -just average (or that spring, maybe just slightly above-hence 4 stars!) Having first seen them in 76' at the Music Hall, this Garden show marked the start of my early life as a tour head; on and off the road and circuit from 77' until 81' at the Greek Theater in Berkeley. During this span we saw hundreds of shows, and were outside for a number of others due to showing up too late, not getting tickets, etc. After the three nights in 81' Berkeley, my old lady and I moved out to Hawaii so that was our last tour. Funny, we used to lament that we'd already missed the GD at their best because Pig Pen was gone. Now looking -and more importantly-listening back, I realize how extremely fortunate we were to experience this. Shows really felt like family, even tribal affairs, we all took care of each other...Truly. The Dead were still largely in their prime, with Jerry just a bit older, but not unhealthy, and in a new creative and innovative era which produced Wake of the Flood, Blues of Allah and Terrapin. Oh what a time it was! Listening to much their work in the 80's and early 90's is almost painful in comparison but perhaps that's just my nostalgia playing up...

I read the reviews for 3 reasons.

1 - Quality - Reviews tell me the opinions of my fellow Heads about the quality of playing at a particular show as well as the quality of the recording. This gives me an idea about whether I should take 3 hours to listen to a show. That's why I like detailed reviews by people like Mind Wonderin, Doug_The_Dude and many others. Obviously I listen a bit to the stream to see if its a show I want to listen to but these reviews can point me to a particular song or jam to help me decide.

2 - Stories - I really enjoy the stories of experiences heads had at a show I'm listening to. Makes it more real and personable.

3 - Fighting - Who isn't entertained by people arguing about whether a subjective thing can be objectively proven? Who doesn't enjoy reading a review about a 1971 show that starts off with the reviewer saying he hates Pigpen's singing or a review of a 77 show by someone who hates any show after 1973? OK BOOMERS!

As for this show, IMHO, the playing is typical 1977, i.e. phenomenal, and the sound quality is great. My problem is the lengthy and frequent tuning breaks. Its tough to get into the show when there's minutes of dead air in between songs. If you can get this show with the breaks edited out then its a no-brainer keeper.

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Reviewing GD shows with letter grades (A-, B, C+ etc) is for those who should be teaching primary school.

With the GD it becomes clear that many "fans" are more into statistics than music. I think we can all listen and come to our own conclusions. With all of the GD statisticians raving all over the place it's best to just ignore them and listen to the music. One Robert Christgau is more than enough.

It's tempting for some to think that others are so incapable of drawing their own conclusions that their own review of a show carries significant weight. For example, when someone tries to convince the rest of us that one show "flows" better than another or is more consistent than another, I begin to think these folks actually believe that we all hear things the same way. It might not even occur to some of these statistics junkies that there are some of us who don't like many of the cover songs performed by the dead, regardless of the era they were performed in. And anyone trying to convince me that any song co written by John Barlow is as good as any song co written by Robert Hunter is bound to irritate my own sensibilities.

Many deadheads seem to believe that they are worthy of rating shows for the rest of us but these same folks get excited about the placement of El Paso in the setlist regardless of the lameness of the performance. Is Franklin's Tower any better just because it follows Half Step? No, but it's nice to get two Hunter-Garcia songs in a row without having to suffer through yet another inferior Weir-Barlow track.

At the Greek in 1984 we got 3 Garcia lead vocals in a row to open the second set but the band was not connecting so it's hardly exciting. Same for the Dark Star encore. It doesn't matter how long since the last Dark Star if the Dark Star is as weak as the Greek '84 version.

Here in May of 1977 we have Mickey Hart cluttering up the ballads like he always does but it's spring of 1977 so the rest of the band is together enough to overcome some of it. Donna sings counter melodies which is not the same as being out of tune but it still gets in the way because we want to hear the vocal melodies the way Garcia wrote them. Garcia improvises on the guitar a lot but he does not sway from his vocal melodies too much. The vocal melodies are somewhat written in stone.

I suggest listening to this fine show on your own terms. People writing report cards for GD shows often seem to want us to think they listen better than we do. They want to come across like they know more than the rest of us. But they don't. They certainly are no more qualified than I am when it comes to recognizing what I like. I certainly can't respect the opinion of someone who cannot differentiate between the quality of a Garcia/Hunter song and that of a Weir/Barlow song. Or one who does not notice just how meandering Lesh's bass lines can often be.

In closing allow me to point out that when the GD were inducted into the Jann Wenner Hall Of Fame every living member of the band showed up to accept their award except for two: Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter. If this does not signify anything to you than I give you a D on your deadhead report card.

This show is as good as it sounds to you.

Where are those time machines they promised us by 2010 back in 1970? How many people would be hoping for a miracle outside this show? What a show for which to have a Bertha source (let alone an Eaton & a Miller) - first night of The Holy Trilogy. Everybody already knows these are three-in-a row, often-ranked-Top-10 shows; perhaps even the most-regarded 3 back-to-back dates (admit it and go back to your '74s and your '72s).

The trilogy is weighty due to the fame of the meat in the sandwich: Barton. But there are two other equal/better three-in-a-rows in '77: 12-27>12/30 & 5/19>5/22. Listening to all of these again plus this trilogy slightly lessened my opinion of this show. This is the one (of the three) with the equipment problems that causes large gaps between songs (and therefore the nature of the show changed on the official release, which cuts these gaps). This hurts the flow and therefore the energy compared to Barton and War/Buff. Still, the sequence from Deal to MNS is one of the best in the giant history of the band. There are few equals to this MNS. And there's no better Samson (though there are a dozen that tie) and the sequence through Eyes is also brilliant.

The trilogy:
5/7/77 - B+  A few more high points; less flowing
5/8/77 - A-  Most consistent show; best flow; fewer highest points
5/9/77 - A-  Least consistent but biggest high points

Not that ranking these is a necessary exercise - you have all three, you listen to them annually and apply them as salve for life's ailments. You don't master them, you simply live in the same time/space as them. You cogitate alongside them, ruminate, live inside them, lay on their couches and occasionally dust in their corners. Sometimes you take them out to dinner and they do the same. When you're too baked, they drive. They remind you when it's 4: 19, and they are always up for a road trip.

(Just don't tell them about 5/21/77 & 5/22/77)

First Set. It's a tad rough gettin' goin' with Bertha, but Cassidy is better. Though not quite as good as the next night, the set turns on an ace Deal, and after that the set's a monster. Ignoring the tuning gaps, Mississippi is great even if not 5/12 or 5/17, and Big River is a glorious wrangle.

Second Set. Terrapin is solid - not 4/30, but nice. Samson overcomes drummer soup and most of the rest is just golden. The ensemble playing on Friend of the Devil is great. Donna is good here; truly one of the year's best. Estimated is perfection, albeit non-exploratory. Note that Eyes is from a dead stop. Wharf Rat gets better and better, but with the bland Around & Around the steam's gone.

1st Set:  A-
2nd Set: B
Overall = 4½ stars

Highlights:
Deal, Peggy-O, Big River, Minglewood Blues, Mississippi Half-step, Music Never Stopped, Samson & Delilah, Friend of the Devil, Estimated Prophet, Eyes of the World

SOURCES. The Bertha (ashley_26361) sounds great, if a bit processed. The miller_88525 is probably truer-to-source, but not as mastered (for balance, etc.) and it's too hot in the bottom end, making Phil thud a bunch (the state of the source SBD). The eaton_wizard_26085 is maybe slightly rougher, but Phil has truer note frequency compared to the boomier Bertha. It's nothing you can't correct for with your EQ. May 1977 Get Shown remasters the EQ problems quite successfully but dispenses all the lengthy equip problems and tunings, changing the character. With a little EQ it's a great live album, if not the show those present heard.

DustTizzle - cuz "Fennario" and "Peggy-O'" are the lyrics. It's real name is The Bonnie Lass o'Fyvie.

They're obviously both great shows but, equipment issues aside, I give this show the edge by a nose. The second set is just great (Wharf Rat is otherworldly). Through on a good set of over the ear headphones and give it a spin. I love both shows,'but there are just more special little moments here. The equipment issues, Garden acoustics and hot mics capturing the band bitching just add an extra layer of humanity. And they had just bagged a big record deal. They were in it to win it in '77.

To my ears the run of Mississippi/Big River/ Tennessee/Music Never Stopped is one of the most amazing and well executed run of songs the band has ever played. Just beautiful, everyone is crisp and on point and most amazing of all is the vocals, I think they were at their vocal peak(as far as live goes) on the spring '77 tour. Jerry's voice still young yet starting to show the wisdom of aging, Bob on point and harmonizing well, even Donna sounds good here. Just amazing, my favorite!!!!!

It's a great thing that we are all able to experience these shows in our own way in our own time. For those of us that are were not born or too young to hear these in their original form, in the collective environment, we have archive.org.

This particular show is crisp and clear. In my opinion, the band sounds great -- never perfect -- but if you want perfect sound, go to a modern pop concert with pitch control software, advanced choreography, and stage props. This is a rockin show that captures the evolution of some great Dead standards.

For anyone that thinks it is a pile of unorganized shit, maybe they should tune in to a studio album.

what a disorganized and poorly executed pile of shit. I hear people rave about '77 as the "good ole days" but all I hear is burnout. The band sucked after '73. This show is no exception.

These three shows are a great run

When there is no TDIH that catches my interest then I sometimes go by POPULARITY filter or whatever it is called?
Good tune selection 1st set. Not used to Cassidy and Deal played in standard as opposed to jam out mode.
Honestly, for me there are way to many breaks in the action during the 1st set but with that said when they are actually making music the tunes are strong.
I feel like I have been listening to the 1st set for several hours now. Good Half-Step--- Jerry needed one more "Across the Rio Grande" which Phil and Donna provide.
(It is not helping that my hockey team is getting their butts kicked..Auggghhh...)
Big River-If you asked me what tune has most surprised you when listening to multiple shows in the archive that did not stand out back in the day to me???
ANSWER----BIG RIVER!!!
I am amazed how HOT this song was over the years and here is no exception.
To me it lost something when it got into double dose Cowboy Rotation in later years.
Everyone entitled to their opinion but I would say many of the MUSIC's from January 78 are hotter than this?
Don't know if anyone's noticed but i find shows with huge gaps between songs to be in the POT smoking realm whereas Express train shows seem to me to be more conducive to Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds experience.

Missed 1st three songs of 2nd set
Came back and got SAMSON and Delilah
(Bobby and ESTIMATED!!!)
There is 3 minutes between Estimated and Eyes.
I wonder how many times that happened???
1977 seems to be the only year that can come close to 1973 for stellar Eyes of the World.
THE WHEEL is so freakin laid back and there is more of Donna here then i have heard most of the night.
Very nice jam inside the Wheel. around 6 minutes in
14 minutes of Wharf Rat coming!
I like the pace of Wharf Rat here it really sinks in when the slow the pace down.
Keith very nice here with that electric piano.
Oh! Donna at her best with soothing backing vocals.
If you can say- "I know the life I am living's no good..."
Then there is hope! It is only the one who says I need no help that is hopeless.
"I will get up and fly away"

they wanted to give Billy K the best birthday gift possible.

Fact: This site is incredible and no other is comparable.
Fact: This band was awesome
Fact: Everyone has a right to their own opinion.
Fact: Most reviewers compare their favorite show to 5.8.77
Fact: many reviewers are homies - their hometown show was the best.
Fact: May 77 had to be the best individual month ever, and the amount of excellent performances is unmatched by any other band.
Opinion: i happen to find some of the winterland shows a little sloppy and over rated in comparison to May. Maybe being there would add an element of excitement due to raised expectations. I can see that being true for a show at the Beacon Theatre or Fox Theatre on the East Coast.
Opinion: I think the Springfield setlist was mindboggling.

Why sometimes they label Peggy-O ....Fennario sometimes??? Anyone have any insight into this

This tour was when Misszippi and sugaree became monster vehicles for Garcia. Sugaree expanded from 7-9 minutes to 13 to 18 minute guitar break extravaganza's. Missippi expanded as well with this version up there with Englishtown, winterland in June and a number of other versions from May.Big river was also special at this time and in this show. The 73/74 versions were good but different to the version here and other spring versions.The wharf rat here is pretty monumental. This one is long but long is not neccessarily an indicator of a good version. the guitar break before 'got up and wandered' is where its at (for me) the outro jam is good but there are better ones from late 78 and 79/81. but another good factor is this was really the last tour where kieth was fully engaged playing piano, not electric which lacked sustain, good tibre, color etc. plus he was still mixing in the moog on this misszippi for example. He was still good/great over the summer of 77 with JGB and then the solo Englishtown show where he was playing electric piano(rhodes??) that sounded good sustain etc plus moog on Estimated for example. But when the Fall tour started 3 weeks after englishtown the downward spiral began. Spring 77 was really a special time when ALL cylinders were still clicking. and the recordings were GOOD Fall 77 had some GREAT shows but not on ALL cylinders as keith was deteriorating though still much better than late 78 and those early 79 shows(agh!!)For my taste Kieth's contribtion peaked in 73/74 when he had various sounds, keyboards and grand piano. He was GREAT in those years with the largest variety of sounds and jazzy interplay.Check out numerous versions of Weather report from late 73 until 10/74 when he varied his sound/keyboards and play on all the different versions as an example..Back to spring 77 I like Garcia's sound/tone better in late 77/78 etc but as a whole the band/recordings sound better from the Spring 77. For me a lot of the 'reviews' here are written from the memory of attending the concert as welll which is a whole different 'can of worms.' For example if you were up front at Englishtown(take a step back) you were 'bug eyed' and probably didnt think it was a 'good show' as you or I was too uncomfortable to enjoy it. But I love listening to it now or even a week afterwards as it was a 'radio' show. Ill finish up by saying that reviewing something as 'the best' is a 'fool's errand.' It's rare or nonexistant when every guitar break in a song was the 'best one' ever and Phil and Bob and the drummers and the keyboards were also the 'best ever.' In reality you might have top/best portions of a song but other parts are clearly not the best. For example MORNING DEW. You can evaluate Garcia's vocal phrasing/emotion for each verse and then the 1st guitar break and the second break into 'I guess it doesnt matter anyway'.Phil's contribution, Bob's, drummer's etc You NEVER have a version where ALL factor's were 'the BEST EVER." There are numerous GREAT versions which are great for different reasons......Im done....for now

Hey now folks, I was at this show and took photos from the front row. Here' the link to my site: http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-Jp4zbS/
I finally got them all digitized and up online.
Of the 70 shows that I saw from 73-95 I had front row seats twice, and this was one. Normally did not bring my camera but was glad I did on this night. Always loved this first set with Deal and Jack Straw both played in the middle of the set.

I was at this show, it was pretty amazing. This recording is almost as amazing, it brings it all back in spades. It's very emotional in some ways. I'll never forget standing there in the second deck looking right down on the stage as they played Terrapin Station and thinking what the fuck is this? I had never heard anything like it in my life and I still haven't. It stands alone as a masterpiece.

@ Wang Dong (et al); I'm sure many old timers know, but for Wang Dong, and any other newly interested folks,.... The Dead were actually always at the cutting edge of sound reinforcement technology. The Dead along with some compratriots, (eg. John Meyer & many others), were some of the first in building stage monitors & custom PA systems, (most notably the Wall of Sound). The Dead were the exact opposite of cheap when it came to sound. They spent millions on getting the best gear possible and then often customizing it. As with any brand new cutting edge gear, there are often bugs to work out. But they did indeed care more about sound quality for themselves, and the audience more than virtually any other band. I HIGHly recommend the Dead Gear book!!! It will give you a deeper appreciation of why some shows have many or long technical delays. Anyway, this is a great recording of a great show!

Your right 'FortWarren'! Right after that burst of static that starts at the 9:19 mark of/after 'Fenario', you can hear Jerry yell out at the 9:22-9:24 mark, "This place is the pits!" LOL! It's so funny the way he says it too. It really helps to have earbuds in order to hear it since it's off mic.
There were a lot of pits that they played in the 70's/80's!!!
But the technical problems at this show were awful. Someone in the crowd should have yelled back, "Your bands equipments the pits!" :D That was true as well!
I love 72-77, but the boys sure did go low budget on their equipment. Lots of technical issues. This show is the worst of the lot for technical issues but they sure make up for it in performance. I hate the star rating system. I believe a 1-10 would be more precise.
I give this a 4.5 or 9 on a 10 scale. But for the sake of not being a stickler, I'll give it the Full Monty!

9:19 into Peggy O, just before NMB, you can hear static from a pickup, and I'm PRETTY SURE you can hear Garcia exclaim , "this place is the pits ! "
Makes sense he would say that when they're having equipment trouble, but the irony is that it turns out to be an historicly good show. My one and only time being in the room with Garcia was Boston Garden 17 yrs later. 9.27.94 my fav SOTM of all time! great solo. I digress. I'm a Brent man, but this show here is beyond good. Thanks to everyone who made it happen in my ears

I'm trying to DL this particular copy of EOFW into my comp. w/out DL the whole set, can anyone help me with this, thanks.

E-------------------------0-----------------------
B-------------------------1-----------------------
G-------------------------2-----------------------
D--2-0-----0--------------2-----------------------
A------3-----3--2---3-2---0-----------------------
E-----------------------3-------------------------

I was listening to this concert in bed late one night. Must have dozed off to be awakened to an amazing sound. It was Phil & Jerry going wild on "Eyes of the World" Phil really pounds out great bellowing riffs and Jerry plays with great speed and technical whizardry. They reach into a fantastic creative space.

A lot of the other tracks are really wound up as well. TERAPIN

When you stream this thing make sure you turn the volume up as high as possible, it is impossible to play it to loud. The quality of the recording is clean and detailed. You can close your eyes and step into the tapestry of sound. The snare and cymbols snap out as if you are sitting on the seat of the drum kit next to Bill.

Not much out there any better than this!

PS forgive my spelling.

smokin...sizzle..sizzle..siz

Had a tape of this years ago. Half Step is off the hook I really like Donna on this as well Make me smile Jerry-thanks for the memories. I love you more than words can tell.

i completely agree may 77 was an excellent year...a few nights later incredible show at cornell..my favorite versions of dancing in the streets and fire on the mountain

Hey! "Dead in Istanbul" - totally 100% correct about oh_uh-ah_(well, you get it) ... :-)

As to the music, it's without equal. As noted by a few other reviewers, one of Jerry's classic Peggy-O renditions. Interestingly, May, 77 had a number of excellent versions. Two nights earlier - 5/5 in New Haven - must rank with 5/7 as numbers 1 and 2 (in either order) of all time. My ears picked up more of an interplay with Keith on 5/5 and Bobby on 5/7, but regardless, those versions are simply beautiful.

Indeed - the entire month of May, 77 is arguably the finest month for live Dead in their history.

(and what the F - - k was Lawrence T listening to when he gave this show one star - - RFKROX - wonderful comment on "deaf" Lawrence)

Enjoy the music . . . Peace

Anyone else find it creepy that oh_uh_um_ah and Back_From_The_Dead are the same person? Especially when he writes "this guy/gal" and "he/she." Pretty creepy man. You might at least change the Real Player info in your posts.

If possible, maybe it's better not to explain how to rip these shows. People can check it out on the net.

That aside, this show is brilliant. The whole Spring run is tremendous. I love this Peggy-O. Ah, the whole show rips and rocks. Enjoy it!

another way to download this show is to install winamp player and winamp stream ripper.

Someone show me a better one.

15 days before I am to get out of high school,stopped in the common to burn one,and in we go.Little did I know the ride I was on,seen them in many places,many times,best for the eyes was always Red Rocks,but Boston this night for the ears.They had fun that night,as did I.It was about the music ,long live.....................

probably the best part of keith's playing is that he ued a REAL acoustic piano, and not that fake synth keyboard

Keith's work especially in the spring of 77 was top notch. skr213 is entitled to his opinion, but maybe he just doesn't know what he is talking about. I won't use 5/7/77 as proof, it's not really my favorite show, however I will refer to help/slip/frank from 5/9/77 or 6/9/77, or 2/26/77 swing's terrapin, or the estimated on 5/18/77 or the terrapin from 3/19/77 the bertha from 5/9/77 the peggy-0 from buffalo or 5/5/ new haven, 4/23 fire, as amazing moments... do you see a trend, he wasn't about being in your face, but what he did do was both fit amazingly with the band, and added sophistication and upper echelon tempo that other bands couldn't touch. the 6/9/77 frank is probably the best example of the it factor.

It is easy to listen to october 1971 or much of later 78 and assume that keith was a light weight, I recognize that some of the chinatown shuffles and you win again's are not earth shattering keyboard examples. But they also were not the important parts of the music. When you really invest in what made the key material eg, playin's, eyes, us blues, scarlet's not just work but colour outside of the lines, keith was part of that recipe.

listen to the franklins tower say in 1980 from radio city, or watch it, why doesn't it work, why doesn't it have the magic that seemed to come so easily in the mid 70's or how about he's gone? what's missing......

when jerry put the band on hold in 1974 and focused on the jgb, he took keith with him, no other dead keyboardist has gotten that honor.

as has been stated by many, this nite and the next two (5/8 and 5/9) are widely considered the best of the year and maybe best of all time. i won't argue with that. this show is phenomenal and boasts one of the greatest eyes ever - fast paced and funky! and the half-step is out of this fucking world; garica's phrasing is EXTRORDINARY. just a couple of the many highlights; others include a GREAT music never stopped, wharf rat and peggy-o. must hear stuff. get if you know what to do.

good god almighty! great stuff on here!!!

Finally got it together to get Real Player grab some music I'd been craving for decades to listen to, all because of oh-uh-um-ah, or back-from-the-DEAD, or whoever you are. Thanks for posting the instructions. Come as you are, take what you need. I'm just here for the music, I hunt out the jams, and the only part of the review I care about is when music is the topic.

I think this guy/gal oh_uh_um_ah has a right to say whatever he/she wants. So shut yer pie hole.
You are not supposed to use the 'Write A Review' section for your personal attacks, and bigotry. READ THE RULES FOR THE INTERNET ARCHIVE, dummy. Save it for the 'Forum'.The 'Write A Review' section is for talking about the show, it's not for attacking each other. It's not about persecuting someone for telling people how to share the music. If someone doesn't want to download a show they won't. And if someone wanted to record a live GRATEFUL DEAD show no one could stop them..rightSHARE...SHARE...SHARE....that's what this is about...it's not about your hate for someone that is helping people enjoy life.

I support sharing the music...so pass it on:

Here's one way to download/stream this show:

The IA recommends users of Windows XP view this web-page with RealPlayer.

RealPlayer is a free media player you can download at www.realplayer.com.

Using RealPlayer to view this webpage, click the VBR M3U link to open the songs in the Playlist.

If your Playlist is not open, open it by clicking the Playlist icon at the lower right hand corner of RealPlayer.

Once the songs are in the Playlist, double click the song to play it, then click the record button at the lower left hand corner of Realplayer to record it.

When the red line reaches the other end click the stop button to download the song. Your song is in the RealPlayer Downloads folder.

Repeat these steps for each song.

OR

Take the "audio out" of the "headphone jack" on your computer and hook it up to the "input" on your Reel-to-Reel, Cassette, Beta-Max, VHS, CD, DVD, MP3 recorder and record it in real time....duh?

for anyone interested in taking a peak behind the mask of the complete tool oh_uh_um_ah, this link might be of interest:

http://www.archive.org/iathreads/forum-display.php?poster=oh_uh_um_ah

thanks for the HATE!

oh uh um ah - can you please tell me how to view the page in real player? thanks!

I agree with skr213 - Keith's playing never did it for me, either. Simplistic and boring. Luckily, it's not bad, or "off," so it doesn't intrude on the excellent musicianship flowing throughout the rest of the band. It's just plain. Great (maybe the greatest) period in Dead history. Wonderful show.

Here's one way to download this show:

The IA recommends users of Windows XP view this web-page with RealPlayer.

RealPlayer is a free media player you can download at www.realplayer.com.

Using RealPlayer to view this webpage, click the VBR M3U link to open the songs in the Playlist. If your Playlist is not open, open it by clicking the Playlist icon at the lower right hand corner of RealPlayer.

Once the songs are in the Playlist, double click the song to play it, then click the record button at the lower left hand corner of Realplayer to record it.

When the red line reaches the other end click the stop button to download the song. Your song is in the RealPlayer Downloads folder.

Repeat these steps for each song.

When Betty Cantor failed to pay the rent on her storage unit, this wonderful recording fell into our hands. Wow! This is what a soundboard should sound like. What a performance! Phil's bass is deep and rich. Thank you, Betty!

BTW, check out the new St. Patty's day T-shirt at www.dead.net "Steal-your-Shamrock", Boston Gahden, 1977.

Go Celtics! The Big Three are back!

What can I say? This was such an astounding concert from a band who was still just beginning to realize their "vision." I got in early,an hour before concert-time; and for a sound check they played the most beautiful rendition of "Brokedown Palace" I've ever heard.The harmonies,especially with Donna's help,were perfect.(Any one have a tape of this?) It was merely a preview of what was to come.We were sitting stage left just slighly above the band,so we could hear the drums&amplifiers before being pumped through the sound system. I think this particular version of "Mississippi Half-Step" is the bomb! To see it unfold guided by Jerry's spectacular solo into that powerful crescendo was breath-taking;total improv at its best! 2nd set they played a "new' song,"Terrapin Station"it was amazing to listen as they went through all of the changes/dynamics of this song.
Friend of the Devil,in this unexpected slow version building to its thunderous climax just blew everybody away!!The band just kept rolling 'em out one after another,the Wheel,Eyes of The World,Estimated Prophet;I think they went far beyond their usual standards,and you could see how much the band was diggin'it!!

Sound is good.

Music Never Stopped is great.

Terrapin is greater.



good show.

wish i could have been there.

Wasn't too impressed on 1st listen, the dead air between tracks is too distracting. Fix it and give it another go. Oh, how sweet the sound, it saved a wretch like me!

Sick!

What an psychedelich, emotional trip, Jerrys voice, his Gituar,unbelieveable!!!

For me, this is Keith at one of his zeniths. His contribution in Wheel > Wharf Rat is spectacular. If you're into Keith grab this, and don't forget 7-18-76, 4-8-72, and 12-10-71 . . . to name just a few. He's alive throughout 71 and 72, and there are other dates too numerous to mention, but on the above boards you can hear him very clearly.

My only complaint about sound, if we're quibbling, is why all the vocals on these 77 boards sound like they've gone through a couple levels of reverb. They must have switched to a different microphone configuration for the leads (perhaps more than one mic or a mix with a more distant placement?) because the vocal quality, its distance or "thinness," is very different from some of the fat 76 vocals. In any case, 5+ show, still stellar sound. I'll take shows like this anyway I can get them. One of the best of 77, for sure. The other Charlie Miller board is probably your best bet for absolute highest quality.

This is a fantastic show, but Keith's oversimplistic 1-3-5 trinkling is driving me absolutely crazy. For being a member of an improv driven band, his child-like contributions bring everything down a notch.

Vintage year, superior sound quality.

- boulder butler

LawrenceT wrote: I would give it a 2 but it just doesn't cut it.

Dude, you need to have your head examined and check into a psychiatric ward! You have absolutely "NO CLUE" how to rate an awesome Grateful Dead show!


Anyone that gives this show less than 5 stars needs to have their head examined!! There is a reason why this show has been downloaded 308,000+ times (2nd download for this show on archive.org). The 1st download (Bertha remaster by Rob Eaton, The Wizard, and Jay Ashley) is the best-sounding version, so download that one. There is some extra tuning/equipment problems before and after some songs, but that only makes this concert better than all the others. And believe me, this was “no warm-up” for Barton Hall. In fact, the Boston Garden and Buffalo Memorial Auditorium book-end shows were the best shows of the 3-night stand, IMHO. Yes, Barton Hall is good, but the audio and quality of the Boston Garden show is off-the-hook!!

The Barton Hall show was downloaded 126,000+ times. Compare that to the Boston Garden show that was downloaded 308,000+ times. I have the Palladium 4/30 flac (lossless) show that I purchased from the deadnetstore.com. The quality is out-of-this-world! Guess what? The quality from the Boston Garden show sounds almost, if not as good, IMHO (and it’s not even lossless).

Now for the show… First of all, forget about the equipment repairs that last several minutes in between some of the songs. They only helped the perfection of this awesome concert, as well. When you burn your _vbr.mp3’s to disk, you don’t have to burn the equipment repair fillers, anyway. The 1st set is as good as any 1st set I’ve heard. Bertha – Cassidy – Deal – Jack Straw is smokin’! Peggy-O is definitely a top-3 of all time, and New Minglewood Blue sounds better than the Barton Hall version, without a doubt!

Now we get to Mississippi Half-Step. Another user stated he thought the best Half-Steps were from ’80 and ’81 until he heard this one. I couldn’t echo that any more! This Half-Step is without a doubt, the fucking bomb!! I have “NEVER” heard Garcia’s guitar transcend my mind like it does on this song! Absolutely, breathtaking! If anyone can find a better Half-Step, then I’d sure like to know! It actually reminds me of Jerry’s guitar on the Dark Star from “Live Dead”. It’s that good, folks!! Big River, Jed and TMNS round out the 1st set, that just doesn’t let up!

And the 2nd set is about as good as I’ve heard for a 2nd set. Terrapin into Sampson just blows me away! Friend of the Devil and Estimated Prophet will have you jammin’ no matter what you are doing. Eyes of the World is very good and Drums is not drawn out, but Eyes is certainly not a top-10. However, The Wheel leading into a 15-1/2 minute Wharf Rat is ridiculous and one for the ages! Around and Around is solid, but the U.S. Blues culminates this show into a top-5 show of all time, IMHO. By the way, Jerry breaks a string before U.S. Blues, but fixes it before the finale.

People have commented on the equipment problems during this show. As far as I’m concerned, it only made this show better because so much tuning was done before most songs that only made the songs sound that much better! The only minor flaws in this show is a slight “feedback” at the beginning of Bertha, and Jack Straw only lasted 5 minutes. But that is me just being picky! LOL

Go listen to Barton Hall, and then listen to Boston Garden. If the 5/7 Boston Garden had a version of Scarlet > Fire from the 5/8 Barton Hall show added to the 2nd set, then this Boston Garden show may have been the best show of all-time! Definitely would have been the best show in 1977. If they only could have played Good Lovin’ after Bertha before Cassidy! OMG!! Can you imagine that??

Danny from Northern Virginia outside of Washington, D.C.
East-Coast Deadhead
rfkrox44@hotmail.com

PEACE-OUT!

I would give it a 2 but it just doesn't cut it.^.

i though when the wall of sound and its “insects” were retired that the equipment issues went away? first set momentum certainly compromised by the incessant tuning and nailing by mickey and billy, but i’m so goddamn baked i could give a rat’s ass.

so, a dozen nights into this tour, the boys and donna just sound better and better each night. while everything in the first set sparkles, deal has been gaining momentum with each playing and mr. lesh, again, shines on this tight version. jack straw #2 of the tour is another highlight. And half step>big river is just ridiculous and jerry and co. just own it! MNS was made to close the first set, and this one is pissah!

terrapin finds an untested spot as the set opener and a rousing samson gets us juiced. a soulful FOTD cools us off before we get to the meet of the set. (yet) another impressive estimated, which clearly has the reverb just exactly where they want it based on this amazing jam. after some more tinkering (and my blowing my umpteenth bone of the night) they launch again, and jerry and phil are just staring each other down as they try to outdo each other in eyes (with keith, bobby and drummers in hot pursuit!). wheel and wharf rat both blow my already blown mind, and the last two songs are just what the doctor ordered.

i head to the door to start thumbing a ride – it’s a long fucking way to Ithaca. i hope it’s worth it.

i sent you an email with an invite to a grateful site and the web address to a few others hope this helps you out, enjoy and im sure you will have all your music back soon, next time just put all your hard drives in a safe along with your computer !!!

looking at all the reviews I can tell there are some very good people out there and I was wondering if anyone would help me. I have spent the last thirty years going to shows and trying to be a good dead head helping people,going that extra mile when there is a person in need. I came home and all my pc stuff was gone???? They could have left my extra hard drive that I have been working on for years to get shows and its all gone> Will anyone out there help me start to get some of my music back???? Take anything but not my dead please!!!!! ajak58@msn.com

Wow, this is a great show with almost everyone of my favorite songs. The only thing about this show that is missing is Scarlet Fire. The Bertha makes the show worth downloading. I love this. You will to. I mean, how often do they play The Weel.

This show is incredible... they play so many of my favorite songs on here too.

One of my favorite Scarlet's and the Music Never Stopped on here is bar far the best.

Epic show..... the reason why there were so many tune-ups is because Jerry and the boys wanted to make sure each song sounded perfect. That's why there is a tune-up before each song.

Go to www.nugs.net do download this poppin show. One of May's finest. If that doesn't work i will send you a copy of the show. Email me back at wcooney101@msn.com. Good luck and enjoy the show.

The sound is so incredible on this recording.

People keep posting saying that this is the best concert that they have downloaded....
question is, how can I download it?
Appears to only be available in streaming format.

Thanks

Well, okay, maybe it does. But shows like this don't come around often. This is one of those special shows where the boys were ON. Of course, in May 77 that was the case pretty much every night. The Wharf Rat here sent shivers down my spine. Terrapin Station is spot on, and the Peggy-O is one of the finest you'll ever hear.

Perhaps one of the most remarkable things about this show is the sound. Many SBD shows sound flat, but this one has very rich and full sound.

best dead show i have downloaded in a long time..77 is my fav yr and this is possibly the best from 77...dont pass this by and ownload it now..

One Thing I Have To Say... I love Donna in this one... She sounds so good... I love the slight Reverb also... Rules.... Mike T

What an awesome show and I am always looking for a hot Bertha. :)

1977 is one of my favorite years for the dead.... so many great shows you can go to NUGS.NET and download a pretty good version of this plus a whole lot of other great music some not
available on this wonderful site......

As I listen to this show I get a vision of Garcia smoking a cigarette, facing his guitar rig, turing the wheel on his tuner...Bob walks over and says something and they start to talk. Now Micky is standing leaning over his kit and listening. Keith looks to be asleep waiting to play at the piano. Bobby walks up to a mike says something about ..."until its exactly right".. and Phil plays a loud rif the sound of chords and notes and cymbols and the crowd roars, whistles, guesses and pleads for another song. 10 minutes later are we closer to a song? No ones that worried. I know I can wait...Sorry but one thing that makes this recording so good is the real feel of repairs/tuning. Back in 77 there was a lot of time between songs. But when they played...OH MY. What a Month...what a show. Thanks

Sounds awesome.

Did it ever cross your mind that if you blatantly post how to steal the SBD in your review that SOMEONE from Rhino might just browse by and flip his shit? Maybe even REMOVE ALL STREAMS??? Please. At least talk about it somewhere else!

Now for the show.

The sound on this show is not believable. It is impossible. It is a fucking miracle. That is why I say that God blessed Jerry & the boys. (I really like recordings with echo/reverb) Jerry is on fire, but notably Keith is also on fire here, which is rare for him in 77-78. If you love true beauty removed from all other things, get this sbd however you can.

The sound is so good on this. The Cassidy IS SMOKING. Donna is singing perfectly with Bobby.
I must go look for this on bt.etree.org

i know 5/8/77 gets all the hoopla but man oh man, this one kicks 5/8's butt. all the equipment problems & such do detract from it, and i suspect that's why it doesn't get as much attention as the cornell show, but it's easy enough to skip over those tracks. listen to it. this is the Dead at their very peak. i've always been a little iffy on 5/8 being the greatest show ever as i think they really played it safe that night. everything is well executed but there are no risks taken. this (5/7) is THE night...and THE show. there are those moments where they take off and you're not sure if they're going to make it back in one piece and miraculously, they pull it off. with Garcia's guitar leading the way. very cool early (i think?) Terrapin. grab it, it's amazing.

and the dead were on--dead on--that night.

Wow. Used to be that a recording studio was where you made a pristine recording. Well, take your studion version of terrapin Station and destroy it. It's embarrasing compared to this. This should be put on board the Voyager deep space probe to demonstrate the best of late-70's Dead to freaks in other solar systems.

No matter how many times this show is played in my life----it will never fail to just floor me. No matter how many times!! I scored the Betty Board on a Maxell @ Stevens Pass Ski Area one night. I was a night lift operator--we ran the lifts until 10:00 pm every night......I figured scoring this sweet 2nd set Boston Garden show warranted an early night off from my duties. Called the boss--night was slow--got off work early and headed back to the old Alaskan camper in the overnight lot--one of only two residents in that lot in those days. Ate a quick dinner and then threw a couple doses on the tongue,grabbed the Walkman and the 213cm Kastle Super G's and hit the slopes about 6:30 pm......Holy Sheep Shit!!!!! Never mind the fog-marine flow in the Cascades and the night lights and frost crystal maddness!! When that Terrapin came out swingin'---I was peakin and OH MY GOD!!! WHAT KIND OF ENERGY IS THIS!!?? Big ol' Samson and then I just melted to the SWEETEST, SWEETEST Friend of the Devil---by Estimated I was GONE!!! Wheel...Wharf...This show will boggle your senses---sorry for the tale but you never can forget the first time...this show is HOLY!! That show, the doses, the 3 1/2 hours of solo night skiing playing this tape over and over for the rest of the season...so beautiful, this night @ Boston Garden--so beautiful!!! Thanks for the clarity to the uploader deity!!

This is way up there in my best of list. lots of tuning chops it up a bit but this show rocks! great estimated prophet jam.

I am a recent greatful dead fan. got introduce through a great cover band here in Chicago (Mr. Blotto) and after a Phill and friends shows and a couple DSO shows I had to start listening to the real thing!

just found this jem and listening at work, but it will only stream...how can I get this keep permenantly??? please help.

WOW!

The best half step I have ever heard. Sent shivers down my spine. They were really tight, but still jammed very creatively. Really sweet sound, too. This Half-Step has now moved Half-Step up on my list of favorite Dead tunes.

As a previous poster said, I have had a Betty reel of this show for several years, and to hear a sbd of this show this good is just such a treat. Much has been said of May '77, and every show has unbelievable highlights. In my opinion, the Wheel>Wharf Rat here is absolute peak dead. My favorite Wharf Rat of all time.

For other beautiful may 77 shows, 5/4 is incredibly strong, as are 5/19 and 5/21, and let us not forget the legendary show at The Mosque on 5/25.

5 stars for sound quality, setlist, playing, and energy.

Peggy-O is the tits

five stars for just about every reason. the boys are on tonight. i cant imagine what it would be like to be here. this is probably the best show ive heard. i think may 7th in boston should be grateful dead day instead of tomorow night. (though tomorow's show in ithaca is great too)

sit back, light up, and turn the volume up all the way and go to a different universe.

I was 23 when I attended this show. We sat behind the stage in clear view of the boys. They played facing each other most of the time, and seemed to enjoy it better than any one at the Garden that night. That night was always a highlight I my life.
If I had a time machine ..this would be my first stop. Every time I listen to this show I still get a chill. 1977 was when the Dead peaked...and this could possibly be there best show that year!!

AAA sound quality and great show, Mississippi Half-Step is off the charts.

Listening to this show will spiritually transform your life. I can't even imagine what it must have been like to actually be there! My flesh would have melted off like in the first Indiana Jones movie. My oh my!

This was my 2nd Deadshow after one in NYC and I was 17. Took my younger sister and we both remain dedicated to the Dead to this day. I never dreamed I would hear such a crisp and vibrant version of the show. (My 1st show in 1977..last in 1995)Of all recordings in this time frame?..this one blows the best into the yonder!!! Thanks from my entire family!!

Thanks Rob E. for everything you do! Recreating the GD experience like no one else, playing the music PERFECTLY, AND remixing this amazing show into a perfect clean mix. Its a bird, its a plane, no its bobby! No he's SUPER-HEAD!

This is the show I have listened to over and over. Bertha starts off a little unsure-is it gonna happen tonight?- then Keith hammers on the piano- the entire mood picks way up- Get this one and all others - including tomorrow night's extravaganza- shall pale in the comparison. My unhesitating vote for the bestest first set ever, from any band, anywhere, anytime. ENJOY!

Crowfriend
Take a cold shower !

This is probably the best show, as far as everything, I have in my collection. The sound quality is perfect. WATCH OUT ->some of these other dowloads dont have the entire show!! This one dose (oops!) does.
Something else to say about this jewel, the entire show is represented here. There are no skips between the songs when the band was "getting ready" for the next song. You hear a little of the crowd screaming in-between songs for them to hurry,but they always took their time. You can close your eyes and get the real sense that you are there. Listening to this I am confronted with those familiar chords while they were working out the beginning of the next song. Everybody would start guessing on what the next song was going to be and the "winner" was the one who figured it out first. What a great time.

My suggestion, get this, play it without looking at the set list, close your eyes, sit on the floor or stand in front of the stereo, fade back, sway, dance, sing, smile, smile, smile.

on the mix here. I had a "tired" Betty C. board that was many generations old. I still played it, b/c in a year of 5 star shows, this one has to be in the top 5. The first set alone is just amazing.
Probably the best "Music" I've ever heard. I know there are other great ones...I would not be surprised to see this as a DP, despite the popularity of next evening's show.

Thanks

6 Stars to Mr. Eaton & Co. for the production work.

I hope that when the time is right some other 77 shows might get a proper going over as far as re-mastering goes. 6/9/77 etc...

A must have for any collector.

In my humble ears opinion...
This new source sounds much cleaner than the more frequently used muddy Betty board source.

Have a listen for yourself.

Great remaster. Hope to see more the show is awsome. THanks to all who put in the time

A fabulous upgrade to a fabulous show. Superb work by Rob Eaton in re-dbx-decoding the primary source that clears up the thudding low end on the original WBOTB? source with much better overall clarity. Excellent finish work by Wiz in blending the Aud patches, cleaning up rough spots and providing the U.S. Blues encore in the alternate SBD source. A must-have for any collector.